Life-raft.



B. R. GREENE,

LIFE RAFT.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT.10,191S.

Patented Mar. 3, 1924.

2 SHEETS-8111131 1.

E. R. GREENE.

LIFE RAFT.

APPLICATXOEI FILED 10 191:2.

Patented Mar. 3, 1914.

Z wi

martin s'rarns PATENT OFFICE.

LIFE-RAFT.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 3, 1914.

Application filed September 10, 1913. Serial No. 789,099.

To on whom. it may concern Be it known that l, Ennns'r It. GREENE, acitizen of the United States, and resident of Hanover, Grafton county,New Hampshire have invented, a new and useful Improvement in LifeRafts,which invention is fully set forth in the following specification.

The present invention is an improvement in life rafts, particularly ofthe reversible and collapsible type.

Heretofore, it has been proposed to use a life raft composed of anannular buoyant member from which was suspended a net ting or hull inwhich the occupants stood. This structure, while effective to sustain alarge number of people, was open to the objection that the occupantswhen standing therein. were half immersed, such a condition in coldweather being attended by serious and even fatal resultsif suchimmersion were continued. for any length of time.

The objects of the present invention are to provide a collapsible,reversible, non-capsizable life raft in which the occupants may standand evensit without being immersed, and which device will, even thoughit fills when thrown into the water, automatically bail itself until. itis substantially empty.

A further object of the invention is to so support the body portion orhullas to relieve the buoyant member or members of all strain, thesupporting means operating effectively whether one side or the other ofthe raft is uppermost; and to so connect the body portion or hull to theframework of the raft as to insure its ready reversibility, at the sametime insuring that no water shall. enter the hull unless it washes overthe side of the raft,

Briefly stated, the first-indicated object of the invention isa-ttaincdby providing in the bottom of any suitable reversible body portion orhull of water-proof material an automatic bailing device which willoperate equally Well Whether the raft is flat on the water in oneposition or in a reversed position, said device, in the embodimenthereinafter described, consisting of bodies of flota tive material, suchas rubber or cork, one beingarranged on each side of the bottom of thehull in association with a perforation therethrough. These bodies(preferably ballsl must be of such size, with relation to the size ofthe hole or perforation that they obturate, and with relation to thepressure of the water in the raft that the fiotative body or ball in theraft will remain out of engagement with the outlet and permit the waterin the raft to freely flow through said outlet until the raft is emptiedor the level of the water in the raft is the same as that of thesupporting body of water. In other words, the buoyancy of the body orball within the raft must be sufficient to cause the valve to assumedischarge position under the action of the head of water in the rafttending to close the valve.

The other objects of the invention are attained by providing a frameworkto which a buoyant member or members are secured, a hull or body portionbeing connected to said framework, witha plurality of ropes pass- 'ingunder and supporting said hull,v and with a second series of ropespassing over said hull, which latter will engage and support the same ifthe raft is turned over. The hull or body portion is secured to acontinuous strip of waterproof material (which being secured to saidstrip on a line intermediate the top and bottom of said strip, andpreferably midway thereof, thus insur ing ready reversibility of saidhull and preventing water from passing therein except t over the sidesof the raft.

The invention will be betterunderstood by reference to the accompanyingdrawings,

which illustrate one expression of the inventive idea, and whereinFigure 1 is a perspective view of a life raft embodying the invention;Fig. 2 is an end elevation of the same; Fig. 3 is a longitudinalvertical section; Fig. 4 is a crosssection on the line's-4, Fig. 3; andFig. 5 is a detail view of the automatic bailing device.

a framework, two buoyant members conof saidilongitudinal members. Aplurality is connected to the framework), said hullnected thereto, and ahull or body portion bodiment, the framework consists of longi Referringto the dratvings, there is shown ofpairs of bolts 1? connect transversestrips 13 and 14- and similar sets of bolts 18 connectstrips i5 and 16.The transverse strips at each end of the longitudinal members are nailedor otherwise secured to their as sociated braces 8, 9, l0 and 11. Bythis means a framework of great rigidity and strength isprorided whethersaid framework be metal or Wood Any suitable huoya' Jnien'iber carriedby the frziineworlr, but as here shown two tube-like members 19 and 220.are provided. r i .Inese members extend longitudinally of theframework, preferably in engagement with the longitudinal pieces 3, 6and '7, 7, one end of each of said buoyant 'mcrnl'iers being heldbetween transverse strips 13 and. 1%, and the other ends betweentransverse pieces 15 and 16, said buoyant members being held fixedly inposition by the tightening of bolts 17 and 18.

A continuous strip 21 of water-proof niaterial such as canvas, coversthe inner faces of longitudinal strips 6, 6 and 7, 7", said strip ofcanvas being secured in place in any suitable manner. As here shown eachedge of-said continuous strip is provided with eyelets '2 (Fig. throughwhich passes a cord or rope that also passes through eyelets 2tfastenedto the lOIU ltlldinal strips of the framework. body portion which is ofany suitable miter-proof i at rial, such ca1ii*az-i-,is pen. only at itslop and at its upper edge is secured at so, in any suitable manner tosaid continuous strip. Preferably the point at which the hull or bodyportion is secured to said strip is midwaybetween the top and bottomsaid strip so that said hull ill project through the framework an equaldistance, whether in one-position or the other, thus possessing perfectreversibility. The connection between said hull and continuous strip issuch as to prevent Water from entering at this point.

A large wooden grating 27 is secured to the bottom of the hull or bodyportion in any suitable manner, said grating having a? strong tendencyto rise to the surface of the water.

The hull or body portion is suppo from the framework by a plurality of r28, which as here snown eonnectej their ends to eyelets 53 said ropesengaging and supporting said hull when the parts hr in the positionshown in the drawings. I the raft should be turned over, the hull wouldbe supported by like ropes 29 also se-' cured at their ends to eyeletsIt will thus be seen that whenever the hull or body portion is fullyextended in one cirection or the other, it wi l be effectively supportedby ropes 28 or 29. There also preferably secured to eyelet-s 24 aplurality of ropes or cords 30 and 31'that extend nround the outnose Thehull or side of buoyant members 19 and 20, and to which persons in theWater may clin It is of prime importance that the occupants of liferafts should remainas dry as possible, for. in severe weather evenpartial immersion if continued for any length of time usually resultsseriously and often times fatally. the stress of the excitement incidentto a shipwreck to launch even a raft provided with a water-proof bull insuch manner that it will ship no water. Indeed life rafts are usuallysimply thrown or tossed overboard, and with a. device such as hereindescribed, it is practically impossible to prevent the hull from fillingeither wholly or in part.-

Accordingly, means have been devised whereby the hull will beautomatically bailed after theraft rights itself the bail ingcontinuing; until the raft is'empty or until the level of the water inthe'raft is the same as that of the supportin body of water.

As herein shown; the bailing device in question consists of a doublevalve mechanisrn associated with, and at the proper time obturatiug", aperforation 32 provided in a plate 33 carried in an opening in one ofthe slats 34- of the grating 27. The ends of this opening are preferablybeveled and a body of flotative material, such as cork or rubber, and ashere showne rubber ball 85, is associated opening. Ball 35 is containedin a cage 37 and ball 36 in a cage 38, said cages being se curedtogether and to slat 3'1; by bolts 39 passing therethrough. Cage 37 isprovided with openings 40 and cage 38 with openings 41', said openingsbeing adjacent to plate 33, and said openings are so positioned that,when water passes throughopenings 40, it will engage ball 35 below thecenter thereof, so as to act to elevate ball 35 in its cage 37.

Not every double ball valve will operate to automatically bail the waterfrom the raft, and it has been found necessary to adaptthe diameter ofthe balls with respect to the water pressure and size of the outlet 32,so that the ball in cage 37 will float upward and permit the water inthe raft to flow through openings 40, perforation and openings 41. Ifthe balls are too small with respect to the size of perforation 32, thepressure of the superimposed, body of water may cause the bell in cage37 to remain in the position shown in Fig. 5: and if the ball were toosmall and did not possess sullicientfiotative properties, even if itwere jarred loose from itsnseatin the end of perforation 32, themomentum of the water rushing through said perforation It is almostimpossiblegunderwith one end of said opening and a similar ball 36 withthe other end of said would at once cause the ball to assume theposition shown in Fig. For example, it has been found that an ordinaryfour inch hollow riibberball, as-

be accomplished by removing their Weight Y framework, and any suitablebuoyant body sociated with an outlet 32 one and one-quar ter inches indizuneter, will rise in nine inches of water. If the size of the outletis decreased the ball will rise higher.

The operation of the device is as follows: The raft being thrownoverboard, usually a quantity of water will be shipped. If we assumethat the depth. of water in the raft after it rights itself is forty-twoinches and I that the level of the water in the raft is ten inches abovethat of the supporting body of water, the Valve construction justdescribed will operate. automatically to bail out the excess, and as theraft is relieved of the weight of the excess, the flotative effect ofthe grating 27 in the hull will cause an upward pres sure, thusmaintaining the level of the water within the raft above that of thesupporting body of water and the automatic bailer continues to operateuntil the raft is substan tially emptied. As soon. as the raft isemptied, the; ball 86v will engage and obturate outlet 32, by flotation.If new the grating 27 is forced downward to the position shown in Fig.l, the ball 36 will be held in position with added strength by thepressure of the water. It is pointed out that, when the bailing actionis taking place, both balls 35 and 36 occupy a position in theirrespective cages away from the outlet 32,50 that the water in the raftmay freely flow through the same. Preferably, a plurality of theseautomatic bailing devices are provided, and as shown in Fig. 3 one issecured in the centor of the bottom of the hull and one at each endthereof. Even if the raft were loaded and a wave were to wash over andfill the same the bailing device would remove the excess until thelevels were equalized, even though the occupants were standing on thegrating; and, if then, they wished to remove the water remaining in thehull, this could from the grating as by sitting on the frame work andbuoyant men'ibers, and allowing the grating to float upward. Thisemptying operation could be facilitated by manually elevating thegrating and the bottom of the hull by pulling on ropes 42 connected tothe grating. The pressure of the Water bearing against the sides of thecollapsible hull would act to facilitate the manual raising of saidbottom.

lVhile, for the purpose of clearness, one expression of the inventiveidea has been herein shown and described in considerable detail, it isto be understood that the inventive idea is not limited to theconstruction shown, but that it is susceptible of various mechanicalembodiments conforming to the appended claims. For example, any suitableor bodies might be employed. Also the construction of the bailing devicemight be varied and there might be employed any automatically-operatingmeans which permits the escape of water from the raft in either of itspositions. If desired, the flotative bodies 35 and 36 may be connectedto levers carrying valve members that act to ob'turate perforation oroutlet It is to be borne in mind, however, that the size of theflotative bodies in such a structure must be large enough with respectto the outlet 32 and the depth of the column of water bearing on thevalve, to float against the downward pressure of the water on saidvalve, and to resist the momentum of the water passing through outlet32, which momentum tends to seat the valve.

That is claimed is 1. In a life raft, a framework, a buoyant membercarried by said framework. a con tinuous flexibly mounted piece ofwaterproof niaterial secured to said framework, and a waterproof bodyportion or hull secured to said piece on a line between its top andbottom.

2. In a life raft, a framework composed of two spaced longitudinalstrips, transverse strips secured at the ends of said longitudinalstrips, a continuous piece of waterproof material arranged over theinner facesof 'said longitudinal strips, and a hull or body portion ofwaterproof material secured to said piece on a line between its top andbottom.

3. In a life raft, a framework composed of two spaced longitudinalstrips, transverse strips securcd at the endsof said longitudinalstrips, a continuous piece of waterproof material arranged over theinner faces of said longitudinal strips, and a hull or body portion ofwater-proof material so cured to said piece on a line between the topand bottom of said longitudinal strips.

4. In a life raft, aframework composed of two spaced. longitudinalstrips, transverse strips secured at the ends of said longitudinalstrips, a continuous piece of water-proof material arranged over theinner faces of said longitudinal strips, a hull or body portion ofwaterproof material secured to said piece on a line between the top andbottom of said longitudinal strips, and ropes car ried by said frameworkand passing under said hull or body.

5. In a life raft, a framework composed of two spaced longitudinalstrips, transverse strips secured at the ends of said longitudinalstrips, a continuous piece of water-proof material arranged over theinner faces of said longitudinal strips, a hull or body portion ofwaterproof material secured to said piece on a line between the top andbottom of said longitudinal strips, and two sets of ropes, one passingunder and the other over said hull or body portion.

6. In a life raft, a buoyant member, a bull or body portion associatedwith said buoyant nee member, and two sets of loose ropes, one

passing under and the other over said huli or body portion and eachadapted to engage and snppo "i said hull. v

7.111 a life raft, a framework, :1 buoyant member carried thereby, ahull or body portion supported by said framework, and two sets of looseropes one passing under and the other over said bull or body portion andeach adapted to engage and support said hull,

S. in a life raft, a' fran'iework, tmoyzvimember carriedihereby, a,continuous piec of Waterproof material supper framework, an bull or bodyport' proof inst in sccnreci to said strip :aioog a line intermediateits top and botto (i :1 piumhty of ropcspas '51 mp porting said hull.

9. In a life raft, a framework, a buoyant member carried thereby, a,continuous piece of Water-proof material supported by said framework, ahull or body portion of Waterproof material secured to said strip uionga line intermediate its top and bottom, pinrzility of ropes pissingunder and supporting said hull, and a second set of ropes passing oversaid hull, one 1 set of ropes being adapt ed to engage and support saidhuii.

10. In a life raft, the combination of a buoyant member, a reversibleWoter-proof body portion provided in bottom piumiity of openings, andznoonmticaiiy operating means permitting the escape of Water throughsaid openings in eith r of the positions of said body portion.

11. in a life raft, the. combination of buoyant member, a reversiblebody portion, and ant-omatmolly-operating in .115 permitting the escapeof Water therefroi'n in either of its positions/ 12. in a. life fruit,the combination of a buoyant member, a reversibie body portion, andautomaticaily-opcrating means carried by the bottom of said body portionpermitl3. buoyant member, a reversible body porti and means incinrhng adouble flotation i permitting the escape of water thereieither of itspositions.

lei. In a life raft, the combination of a buoyant member, a reversiblebody portion, and automatically operating means incindi11 a doubieflotation ire permitting the In a life raft, the combination of :1

of Water therenoin 1h either of its POSIUOII",

in a hie wit, the cornbnl bnoyani; me ni on opening in HS bott-o '1 I 1each or son; bottom,

e cage, stud cages bein openii gs near said. flowing out of saidflotative bOdjJ in the Li.

in a raft, the combination of buoyant, member, a rever ic ho 1:1 ving uopening in its bottom, two idei iicai one secured on each side of saidsaid opening, and iiOt? cage, said cages being near said bottom, in theraft being oeiow i in said cage a. life rf't. ti v t inembe :1.-

portion. a fiotatire body seen the In W iony whereof SPCfiC1ilOIl 1n thepresence mg Witnesses.

ii. G331

